Whitehalls blossom at the Workshop on the Water

Both boats seen here, the carvel in the foerground.

Interior of the carvel Whitehall.

Fine entry of the carval boat, flanked by the whaleboat on the left and the lapstrake on the right.

The lapstrake Whitehall growing up around her molds.

Detail of the carvel boat showing her floor timbers and frames.

Slack bilges and flaring sides create a beautiful form.

Here one can see the wineglass transom that characterizes the Whitehalls.

Planking up the lapstrake boat.

Workshop volunteer Nick Pagon clamps up a strake...

and begins cutting the gain.

Lovely

 

all photos copyright Thomas Armstrong

The Whitehall is generally considered to be the quintessential American rowboat. The iconic design was derived from European models, fast rowing gigs, wherries and cutters. The name originates from Whitehall Street in New York City where they were first built. They ranged in length from 14 to 22 feet and are recognizable by their fine entry and distinctive wineglass transom.  Considered to be one of the fastest, easiest rowing designs known they served as water taxi's, pleasure boats and are still a favorite with home and professional builders alike. They were first built in lapstrake and later carvel.

In a program that incorporates both CHAD students and workshop volunteers, two Whitehalls are currently underway at the Workshop on the Water in Philadelphia, one lapstrake and one carvel. They will join the workshop fleet when completed, hopefully by the end of June and will compete in rowing matches with the two extant Whitehalls in the small craft collection.

The project, overseen by lead boatbuilder at Workshop on the Water Bruce McKenzie, is building to  John Gardner plans, with slight modifications by Nick Pagon.

See Gina Picton's student driven blog on the project here.

A further intro and appreciation of Gardner and his work can be found at the TSCA. 

I apologize for the discrepancies in the spacing of the captions, the new 'blogger' and I are having some issues.

Originally published by Thomas Armstrong in 70.8%

 

70.8%

 

All the Water on Planet Earth

Illustration Credit & Copyright: Jack Cook, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Howard Perlman, USGS
Explanation: How much of planet Earth is made of water? Very little, actually. Although oceans of water cover about 70 percent of Earth's surface, these oceans are shallow compared to the Earth's radius. The above illustration shows what would happen if all of the water on or near the surface of the Earth were bunched up into a ball. The radius of this ball would be only about 700 kilometers, less than half the radius of the Earth's Moon, but slightly larger than Saturn's moon Rhea which, like many moons in our outer Solar System, is mostly water ice. How even this much water came to be on the Earth and whether any significant amount is trapped far beneath Earth's surface remain topics of research.

courtesy APOD

 

The Inimitable Webb Chiles kindly sent me a link which I could not resist. Thanks, Webb.

"straight is the line of duty; curved is the line of beauty": G.L. Watson - the Art and Science of Yacht Design

The handsome cover of this volume from the Peggy Bawn Press

George Lennox Watson by Sir James Guthrie RSA

Peggy Bawn sailing herself off Brooklin, Maine, 2007

Peggy Bawn on Belfast Lough c.1894

Shamrock II's launch, Clydeside

Hunter's Quay c.1882 Royal Clyde Regatta

In Famous Clyde Yachts, Henry Sheilds painted Watson's 1884 5 tonner Shona. Shona gained her fame in America as Charlie Barr's first command.

J. Stwart Clark's Ornsay on Rothsay Bay.

Watson designed this Lowestoft Beach Yawl Happy New Year IV, 1893

Spinnaker Letting Go by Barlow Moore depicts Watson's Valkyrie II losing the 1893 Americas Cup to Nat Herreshoff's Vigilant

Watson, c.1894

Sir Thomas Liptons Watson designed Shamrock II in the 1901 America's Cup

A rare onboard view of Shamrock II during the 1901 Cup. That's Watson with binoculars.

Queen of Scots (1903) designed for William Coats

I must confess that when I received this lavishly illustrated work, I had no knowledge of Watson or his renown. Gary MacMahon (see my AK Ilen posts) was a member of the production team for this sumptuous book through the work of his design firm Copper Reed Studio in Limerick, Ireland and was kind enough to send me a copy. The publisher, Peggy Bawn Press, is named after the small cruising/racing yacht, recently restored and pictured above. Below is a synopsis of this beautifully designed and exhaustively researched volume found on the publisher's website. I'm including this as it is far more succinct than I would be.

"Martin Black’s biography of the great Scottish designer, George Lennox Watson, is much more than a record of his life and work during the Golden Age of Yacht Design. Perhaps uniquely, it also describes the emergence of the role of the modern independent designer, of any profession or discipline. Watson’s career spanned a seminal period in industrial and social development, marking the transition from instinctive and evolutionary craft work to the application of disciplined technological innovation, using new material technology and tank testing.
So this book sheds light on social and industrial history with hundreds of contemporary illustrations, most of which are previously unpublished. Watson’s genius shines through in early racing cutters carrying clouds of sail, pro-bono pioneering work on lifeboats, America’s Cup challengers, and ultimately in sumptuous steam yachts, Watson’s adage: Straight is the line of duty; curved is the line of beauty... is consistently evident.
Carrying his prodigious research lightly, the author’s work floats easily above its load waterline, including delightful mini biographies of the colourful leading characters. Even the footnotes are entertaining.
Meanwhile this extensive and ambitious first volume has an easy “dip-in” structure to be savoured in slices. For example, the chapters on the America’s Cup challenge the conventional histories with newly discovered first hand insider sources.
In recent years, through many superb restorations, classic yachting has found a significant nostalgic niche in the yachting media, if only because of the innate beauty of the yachts and the spectacle they provide. This has revived the reputations of designers Herreshoff and Fife, but Watson’s genius needed to be rescued from a relative obscurity which was triggered by his early death. Was he “the greatest yacht designer of the 19th century”, as Olin Stephens acknowledged? Read Martin Black’s book and see if you agree. At the very least, you will find that George Lennox Watson deserves his place among the pantheon of the greats.
Then you may also answer the question I posed initially; along the way, you will enjoy many illuminating experiences, and also a rattling good yarn!"

Henry J Cooney

While this is not an inexpensive book, it is one that deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in yacht design and/or the America's Cup. Have a look!

Originally published by Thomas Armstrong in 70.8%

Ullapool gets the nod

Ullapool Pier

St. Ayles skiffs beached at Loch Broom

Skiffie racing

A skiff in the foreground during Ullapool Tall Ships

Ullapool

The Harbour

Loch Broom

Coigach


all images courtesy
SCRA World Skiff Championships

Word came in my inbox today that Ullapool has been selected to host the Scottish Coastal Rowing Associations first ever World Skiffs Championship in 2013. What a great choice! I got to know Ullapool many years ago when I spent a summer just north of there on the Coigach coastline. A warm and welcoming town surrounded by spectacular mountains, moors and the sea, and the best fish & chips in the world. Here's the press release sent out by Chris Perkins for the Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club:

St Ayles Skiff World Championships – 8th to 14th July 2013

The Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club is delighted to announce that Ullapool has been selected by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association as the venue for the first World Championship for Coastal Rowing using the St Ayles Skiff. With the astonishing growth of St Ayles Skiff building and rowing by communities internationally the time is right to run a Skiffie Worlds to give an opportunity for Rowers from across the Globe to meet in friendly competition.

Ullapool, on the banks of Loch Broom, a large sheltered sea Loch in the Northwest of Scotland, is an ideal location to host such an event. With an existing infrastructure developed to cater for the needs of visitors and great community experience in running large cultural events SkiifieWorlds will be well within the capacity of the village.

Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club together with their partner organisations, the Loch Broom Sailing Club, Coigach Community Rowing and the Ullapool Harbour Trustees look forward to welcoming visiting crews to our magnificent waters. A full programme of maritime and landbased activities and entertainment is planned culminating with the Prizegiving followed by a boisterous Ceilidh Dance on Saturday 13th.

For more information please visit the dedicated Website http://skiffieworlds.com/, a work in progress which will grow in detail as we get closer to the event.



To find out more about the Iain Oughtred designed St. Ayles Skiff see my earlier posts and visit the Scottish Coastal Rowing website.

Penobscot Marine Museum Photo Archive

Everett 'Red' Boutilier

Number LB2005.24.17244
Collection Boutilier Collection
Description The J & E RIGGIN (89ft. LOA) Capts. Dave and Sue Allen - Skipper , Richard Robbins Sr.- January 22, 1975 at the North End Shipyard Rockland, Me. - aboard.
Object Name Negative, Film
Title J & E RIGGIN
Date January 22, 1975
Photographer Boutilier, Everett L. ”Red”

LB2005.24.17275
Collection Boutilier Collection
Description The J & E RIGGIN (89ft. LOA) - August 13, 1977.
Object Name Negative, Film
Title J & E RIGGIN
Date August 13, 1977
Photographer Boutilier, Everett L. ”Red

LB2005.24.17345
Collection Boutilier Collection
Description Traditional Small Craft Association - overall scene - May 16, 1982.
Object Name Negative, Film
Title Small Rowing Craft
Date May 16, 1982
Photographer Boutilier, Everett L. ”Red”

LB2005.24.17398
Collection Boutilier Collection
Description July 4, 1986 - Tall Ships 1986 - SAGRES II - 3 masted square .
Object Name Negative, Film
Title TALL SHIPS 1986
Date July 4, 1986
Photographer Boutilier, Everett L. ”Red”

LB2005.24.17453
Collection Boutilier Collection
Description July 4, 1986 - Tall Ships 1986 - fire boat with hoses.
Object Name Negative, Film, Color
Title TALL SHIPS 1986
Date July 4, 1986
Photographer Boutilier, Everett L. ”Red

Atlantic Fisherman

LB1992.301.104
Collection Atlantic Fisherman Collection
Description The LAUREN - afloat for first time at the dock at the Webber marina in Muscongus; LOA: 35’; beam 12’-7”; draft 3’.
Object Name Print, Photographic
Place Maine/ Lincoln County/ Muscongus
City Muscongus
County Lincoln County
State Maine, ME
Date Pub.: Mar. 73
Photographer Boutilier, Everett L. ”Red”

LB1992.301.111
Collection Atlantic Fisherman Collection
Description Harbor views at Corea, ME, with many lobster boats.
Object Name Print, Photographic
Place Maine/ Hancock County/ Corea
City Corea
County Hancock County
State Maine, ME
Date Pub.: July 1960
Subjects Fishing boats
Lobsterboats
Photographer/Creator French

LB1992.301.13
Collection Atlantic Fisherman Collection
Description Getting nets ready for fall fishing.
Object Name Print, Photographic

LB1992.301.118 Weir; 4 boats pursing up herring.
Object Name Print, Photographic
Place New Brunswick/ Grand Manan?
Date Pub.: Feb. 1952

Number LB1992.301.148
Collection Atlantic Fisherman Collection
Description Unloading sardines from dory to sardine carrier. This photo was used by B.F. Goodrich to advertise their suction hose in Atlantic Fisherman when the sardine pump was introduced. R.J. Peacock had three carriers working out of Portland in the 1950s:CONQUEROR, SEAWANHAKA, and SYLVINA E. BEAL.
Pub.: Aug. 1952

Ruth Montgomery

LB1990.49.188
Collection Ruth Montgomery Photographic Collection
Description The wreck at Little River, East Boothbay, Maine

Original: Montgomery:’ The wreck at Little River’ Cataloger’s notes: East Boothbay
Object Name Negative, Glass-plate
Title The wreck at Little River
Place Maine/ Lincoln County/ East Boothbay
City East Boothbay
County Lincoln County
State Maine, ME
Date ---
Photographer/Creator Montgomery, Ruth

LB1990.49.125
Collection Ruth Montgomery Photographic Collection
Description Steamer which carried group to picnic site

Original: Montgomery:’ Steamer we went on to picnic’ Cataloger’s notes:
Object Name Negative, Glass-plate
Title Steamer we went on to picnic
Date ---
Photographer/Creator Montgomery, Ruth

LB1990.49.129
Collection Ruth Montgomery Photographic Collection
Description ’Mita’ (dog) lying in chair, on board ship

Original: Montgomery:’ Mita lying down in chair’ Cataloger’s notes: ALLANWILDE alongside ?
Object Name Negative, Glass-plate
Title Mita lying down in chair
Date ---
Photographer/Creator Montgomery, Ruth

LB1990.49.175
Collection Ruth Montgomery Photographic Collection
Description Gay Head

Original: Montgomery:’ Gay head’ Cataloger’s notes:
Object Name Negative, Glass-plate
Title Gay head
Date ---
Photographer/Creator Montgomery, Ruth

LB1990.49.189
Collection Ruth Montgomery Photographic Collection
Description Arthur (Arthur Libby Race) on the Shark

Original: Montgomery:’ Arthur on the shark’ Cataloger’s notes: Arthur Libby Race
Object Name Negative, Glass-plate
Title Arthur on the shark
Date ---
Photographer/Creator Montgomery, Ruth

Joanna Colcord

LB2003.61.1026
Collection Joanna C. Colcord Collection
Description Br ship DUNDEE off Stonecutter’s Island, Hong Kong
Object Name Negative, Glass-plate
Title Br ship DUNDEE off Stonecutter’s Island, Hong Kong
Place Hong Kong
Photographer/Creator Colcord, Joanna C.

LB2003.61.1029
Collection Joanna C. Colcord Collection
Description Market; Nassau, Bahamas
Object Name Negative, Film
Place Bahamas/ Nassau
Photographer/Creator Colcord, Joanna C.

LB2003.61.1051
Collection Joanna C. Colcord Collection
Description Botanic Station; Roseau, Dominica
Object Name Negative, Film
Place Dominica/ Roseau
Photographer/Creator Colcord, Joanna C.

LB2003.61.1084
Collection Joanna C. Colcord Collection
Description Figure in deck chair, aboard ship
Object Name Negative, Film
Photographer/Creator Colcord, Joanna C

LB2003.61.1099
Collection Joanna C. Colcord Collection
Description Street, palms, single figure
Object Name Negative, Film
Photographer/Creator Colcord, Joanna C

LB2003.61.1108
Collection Joanna C. Colcord Collection
Description Scott’s Head; Dominica
Object Name Negative, Film
Place Dominica
Photographer/Creator Colcord, Joanna C.

Elmer Montgomery

LB2008.15.110
Collection Elmer Montgomery Collection
Description Steamer NORTH HAVEN, Ex. ELECTRONIC, bought from Sydney, Nova Scotia in 1931, and began service in June. Sometime after 1942, went into government service out of Portland to installations in Casco Bay , then returned to Rockland briefly before joining the New York City Circle Line fleet. Being towed away.
Object Name Negative, Film
Title Steamer NORTH HAVEN
Place Maine/ Knox County/ Rockland
City Rockland
County Knox County
State Maine, ME

LB2008.15.163
Collection Elmer Montgomery Collection
Description Dragger ST. GEORGE under construction. Interior view including five workmen and keel timbers.
Exhibit Label BUILDING THE ST. GEORGE, 1939

Albert Condon’s drawings for this 110’ dragger are, like all his work, very detailed. There’s no guessing the size, shape, and location of the pieces that go into building her. Snow’s Shipyard was already bustling before its wartime expansion. A new wooden dragger or seiner had slid off the ways every few months since the place was reorganized around 1936. Two other big ones like the ST. GEORGE (the NORTH STAR and BELMONT) followed in September, 1940 and April, 1941.
Before moving to Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Albert Condon had supervised construction at Snow’s. After the move, he continued drawing plans for Snow’s and for the Newbert & Wallace yard in Thomaston. Mystic Seaport now owns all of Albert Condon’s drawings.
Object Name Negative, Film
Title Dragger ST. GEORGE
Place Maine/ Knox County/ Rockland
City Rockland
County Knox County
State Maine, ME
Search Term shipbuilding/ fishing
Photographer Montgomery, Elmer

LB2008.15.185
Collection Elmer Montgomery Collection
Description View of DIRIGO FIRST’s deck with 12 dories on deck. Rigged for dory trawling.
DIRIGO FIRST was built in 1923 in South Freeport for the Dirigo Fish Co. on Union Wharf in Portland as a cod and mackerel boat.
Object Name Negative, Film
Title Dragger DIRIGO FIRST
Place Maine/ Knox County/ Rockland
City Rockland
County Knox County
State Maine, ME
Subjects Dories (Boats)
Rowboats
Fishing vessels
Search Terms dory
Search Term fishing
Photographer Montgomery, Elmer

LB2008.15.187
Collection Elmer Montgomery Collection
Description 78’10” Dragger PELICAN under construction and nearly complete, on deck looking forward. Rail cap being installed. Designed by Albert Condon; plans are at Mystic Seaport (catalog #35.18)
Object Name Negative, Film
Title Dragger PELICAN
Place Maine/ Knox County/ Rockland
City Rockland
County Knox County
State Maine, ME
Search Term shipbuilding/ fishing
Photographer Montgomery, Elmer

LB2008.15.226
Collection Elmer Montgomery Collection
Description Crescent Beach Fish weir in left background, Emery Island in center of photo
Object Name Negative, Film
Title Harbor scene
Place Maine/ Knox County/ Owls Head
City Owls Head
County Knox County
State Maine, ME
Search Term fishing
Photographer Montgomery, Elmer

Preston Williams

LB2008.26.10
Collection MacEwen Collection
Description Vessels at High Head. Oct 1, 1899 (H. Floyd)
Object Name Negative, Glass-plate
Title Vessels, Highhead, Bangor
Place Maine/ Penobscot County/ Bangor
City Bangor
County Penobscot County
State Maine, ME
Date Oct. 1, 1899
Photographer/Creator Williams, Preston ?

LB2008.26.43
Collection MacEwen Collection
Description Old Bangor Suspension Bridge, Bangor-Brewer Bridge. Center span lost in spring flood Feb. 1902. View from Brewer 1903 (H. Floyd)
Object Name Negative, Glass-plate
Title Bangor-Brewer Bridge.
Place Maine/ Penobscot County/ Bangor
City Bangor
County Penobscot County
State Maine, ME
Date 1903
Photographer/Creator Williams, Preston ?

LB2008.26.75
Collection MacEwen Collection
Description Start of fire
Object Name Negative, Glass-plate
Title Bangor Fire 1911
Place Maine/ Penobscot County/ Bangor
City Bangor
County Penobscot County
State Maine, ME
Date 04/30/1911
Photographer/Creator Williams, Preston ?

LB2008.26.96
Collection MacEwen Collection
Description Burnt district
Object Name Negative, Glass-plate
Title Bangor Fire 1911
Place Maine/ Penobscot County/ Bangor
City Bangor
County Penobscot County
State Maine, ME
Photographer/Creator Williams, Preston ?


all photos courtesy Penobscot Marine Museum

This is an amazing resource.

Ben Fuller and Kevin Johnson have been busy, very busy, in Searsport, ME. They've been keeping a small cadre of volunteers and staff members very busy as well. Ben is the curator at the Penobscot Marine Museum, Kevin the museum's photo archivist.
The museum is celebrating it's 75th anniversary and part of the celebration is the addition, as of February 12, of 20,000 newly digitized images to the museums digital photo archive, bringing the total to about 50,000. Wow. And that's only 1/2 of the total photo archive, and their goal is to get it all online, as well as all the museums other collections. Understand this huge repository of images is available now, here, free! I have offered a small sampling of various collections to whet your appetite. One could literally spend months. It's interesting to see a small, regional institution create a world class digital photo database. Hats off to Ben, Kevin and the rest of the team, more power to ya'.
I'm sure the museum can use all the help it can get, so if you enjoy this resource, please do something about it.